ST. PHILIP, BISHOP OF HERACLEA AND COMPANIONS,
MM.

From their original acts, published by Mabillon,
in Vetera Analecta, t. 4, p. 134, and more correctly by Ruinart, p.
409; Tiliemont, t. 5.

A. D. 304.

PHILIP, a venerable old man, bishop of Heraclea,
the metropolis of Thrace, was an illustrious martyr of Christ in the
persecution of Dioclesian. Having discharged every duty of a faithful
minister in the characters of deacon and priest in that city, he was
raised to the episcopal dignity, and governed that church with great
virtue and prudence when it was shaken by violent storms. To extend
and perpetuate the work of God, he was careful to train up many
disciples in the study of sacred learning, and in the practice of
solid piety. Two of the most eminent among them had the happiness to
be made companions of his martyrdom, namely, Severus, a priest, whose
laborious and penitential life proved him to be a true disciple of
the cross; and Hermes, a deacon, who was formerly the first
magistrate of the city, and in that office, by his charity and
universal benevolence, had gained the esteem and affection of all the
citizens; but after he was engaged in the ministry, gained his
livelihood with his own hands, and brought up his son to do the same.
Dioclesian’s first edicts against the Christians being issued
out, many advised the holy bishop to leave the city; but he would not
even stir out of the church, continuing to exhort the brethren to
constancy and patience, and preparing them for the celebration of the
feast of the Epiphany. While he preached to them, Aristomachus, the
stationary, (that is, an officer of the town,) came, by the
governor’s order, to seal up the door of the church. The bishop
said to him, “Do you imagine that God dwells within walls, and
not rather in the hearts of men?” He continued to hold his
assemblies before the doors of the church. The next day certain
officers came, and set their seal upon the sacred vessels and books.
The faithful, who beheld this, were much grieved; but the bishop, who
stood leaning against the door of the church, encouraged them with
his inflamed discourses. Afterwards the governor, Bassus, finding
Philip and many of his flock assembled before the church door, gave
orders that they should be apprehended, and brought before him. Being
seated on his tribunal, he said to them, “Which of you is the
teacher of the Christians?” Philip replied, “I am the
person you seek.” Bassus said, “You know that the emperor
has forbidden your assemblies. Surrender into my hands the vessels of
gold and silver which you make use of, and the books which you read.”
The bishop answered, “The vessels and treasure we will give
you, for it is not by precious metal but by charity that God is
honored. But the sacred books it neither becomes you to demand, nor
me to surrender.” The governor ordered executioners to be
called into court, and commanded Muccapor, the most noted among them
for his inhumanity, to torture the holy prelate. Philip bore his
torments with invincible courage. Hermes told the governor that it
was not in his power to destroy the word of God, even though he
should take away all the writings in which the true doctrine is
contained. The judge commanded him to be scourged. After this he went
with Publius, the governor’s successor, to the place where the
sacred writings and plate were hid. Publius would have conveyed away
some of the vessels, but being hindered by Hermes, he gave him such a
blow on the face that the blood followed. The governor, Bassus, was
provoked at Publius for this action, and ordered the deacon’s
wound to be dressed. He distributed the vessels and books among his
officers; and, to please the infidels and terrify the Christians,
caused Philip and the other prisoners to be brought to the
market-place, surrounded with guards, and the church to be uncovered
by taking off the tiles. In the mean time, by his orders, the
soldiers burned the sacred writings, the flames mounting so high as
to frighten the standers-by. This being told to Philip in the
market-place, he took occasion from this fire to discourse of the
vengeance with which God threatens the wicked, and represented to the
people how their gods and temples had been often burned, beginning
with Hercules, protector of their city, from whom it derived its
name. By this time, Caliphronius, a pagan priest, appeared in the
market-place with his ministers, who brought with them the necessary
preparations for a sacrifice and a profane feast Immediately after,
the governor, Bassus, came, followed by a great multitude, some of
whom pitied the suffering Christians, others, especially the Jews,
clamored loudly against them. Bassus pressed the bishop to sacrifice
to the gods, to the emperors, and to the fortune of the city. Then
pointing at a large and beautiful statue of Hercules, he bade him
consider what veneration was due to that piece. Philip showed the
absurdity of adoring a base metal, and the work of a drunken
statuary. Bassus asked Hermes if he, at least, would sacrifice. “I
will not,” replied Hermes, “I am a Christian”
Bassus said, “If we can persuade Philip to offer sacrifice,
will you follow his example?” Hermes answered he would not;
neither could they persuade Philip. After many useless threats, and
pressing them to sacrifice at least to the emperors, he ordered them
to be carried to prison. As they went along, some of the rabble
insolently pushed Philip, and often threw him down; but he rose with
a joyful countenance, without the least indignation or grief. All
admired his patience, and the martyrs entered the prison joyfully,
singing a psalm of thanksgiving to God. A few days after they were
allowed to stay at the house of one Pancras, near the prison, where
many Christians and some new converts resorted to them to be
instructed in the mysteries of faith. After some time they were
remanded to a prison contiguous to the theatre, which had a door into
that building, with a secret entry. They there received the crowds
that came to visit them in the night.

In the mean time, Bassus going out of office at
the expiration of his term, one Justin succeeded him. The Christians
were much afflicted at this change; for Bassus often yielded to
reason, his wife having for some time worshipped the true God
herself; but Justin was a violent man. Zoilus, the magistrate of the
city, brought Philip before him, who declared to the saint the
emperor’s order, and pressed him to sacrifice. Philip answered,
“I am a Christian, and cannot do what you require. Your
commission is to punish our refusal, not to force our compliance.”
Justin said, “You know not the torments which shall be your
portion.” Philip replied, “You may torment, but will not
conquer me: no power can induce me to sacrifice.” Justin told
him he should be dragged by the feet through the streets of the city,
and if he survived that punishment, should be thrown into prison
again to suffer new torments. Philip answered, “God grant it
may be so.” Justin commanded the soldiers to tie his feet, and
drag him along. They dashed him against so many stones, that he was
torn and bruised all over his body. The Christians carried him in
their arms when he was brought back to his dungeon. The enraged
idolaters had long been in quest of Severus, the priest, who had hid
himself, when inspired by the Holy Ghost, he at length surrendered
himself, and was carried before the governor, and committed to
prison. Hermes was likewise steady in his examination before Justin,
and was treated in the same manner. The three martyrs were kept
imprisoned in a bad air seven months, and then removed to Adrianople,
where they were confined in a private country-house till the arrival
of the governor. The next day, holding his court at the Therm, he
caused Philip to be brought before him, and to be beaten with rods
till his bowels appeared bare. His courage astonished the
executioners, and Justin himself, who remanded him to prison. Hermes
was next examined, and to him all the officers of the court were
favorable, because having been formerly decurio, or chief magistrate
of the city of Heraclea, he had obliged them all on several
occasions, though he declared in his examinations that he had been a
Christian from his cradle. He persisted in this profession, and was
sent back to prison, where the holy martyrs joyfully gave thanks to
Jesus Christ for this beginning of their victory. Philip, though of a
weak and delicate constitution, did not feel the least inconvenience.
Three days after this, Justin caused them to be brought again before
his tribunal, and having in vain pressed Philip to obey the emperors,
said to Hermes; “If the approach of death makes this man think
life not worth preserving, do not you be insensible to its blessings,
and offer sacrifice.” Hermes replied by showing the blindness
and absurdity of idolatry; so that Justin being enraged, cried out,
“Thou speakest as if thou wouldst fain make me a Christian.”
Having then advised with his assessor and others, he pronounced
sentence in these terms: “We order that Philip and Hermes, who,
despising the commands of the emperor, have rendered themselves
unworthy of the name of Romans, be burned, that others may learn to
obey.” They went joyfully to the pile. Philip’s feet were
so sore that he could not walk, and therefore he was carried to
execution. Hermes followed him with much difficulty, being afflicted
also in his feet; and he said to him, “Master, let us hasten to
go to our Lord. Why should we be concerned about our feet, since we
shall have no more occasion for them?” Then he said to the
multitude that followed them, “The Lord revealed to me that I
must suffer. While I was asleep, methought I saw a dove as white as
snow, which, entering into the chamber, rested on my head, and
descending upon my breast, presented me some meat which was very
agreeable to the taste. I knew that it was the Lord that called me,
and was pleased to honor me with martyrdom.” Fleury remarks,
that this delicious meat seems to mean the eucharist, which the
martyrs received before the combat. When they came to the place of
punishment, the executioners, according to custom, covered Philip’s
feet and legs with earth up to the knees; and having tied his hands
behind his back nailed them to the pile. They likewise made Hermes go
down into a ditch who, supporting himself upon a club, because his
feet trembled, said smiling; “O demon, thou canst not suffer me
even here.” Immediately, the executioners covered his feet with
earth; but before they lighted the fire, he called upon Velogus, a
Christian, and said to him; “I conjure you by our Saviour Jesus
Christ, tell my son Philip from me, to restore whatever was committed
to my charge, that I may incur no fault: even the laws of this world
ordain it. Tell him also, that he is young, and must get his bread by
labor, as he has seen me do, and behave himself well to everybody.”
He spoke of the treasures of the church, or of deposites lodged in
his hands. Hermes having spoken thus, his hands were tied behind his
back, and fire was set to the pile. The martyrs praised, and gave
thanks to God as long as they were able to speak. Their bodies were
found entire; Philip having his hands stretched out as in prayer;
Hermes with a clear countenance, only his ear a little blue. Justin
ordered their bodies to be thrown into the Hebrus; but certain
citizens of Adrianople went in boats with nets, and fished them out
while they were entire, and hid them for three days at a place called
Ogestiron, twelve miles from the city. Severus, the priest, who had
been left alone in prison, being informed of their martyrdom,
rejoiced at their glory, and earnestly besought God not to think him
unworthy to partake in it, since he had confessed his name with them.
He was heard, and suffered martyrdom the day after them. The order
for burning the holy scriptures and destroying the churches, points
out the time of their suffering to have been after the first edicts
of Dioclesian. The 22d of October is consecrated in the Martyrologies
to their memory.

A just and humble fear, the assiduous practice of
penance, and all other virtues, the most fervent use of the
sacraments, prayer, and meditation on eternal truths, a contempt of
the world, and of the goods and evils of this life, and a constant
attention to those to come, were the weapons with which the martyrs
stood always prepared for the combat, and the source of the courage
and strength which they obtained of God, and by which they triumphed.
The spiritual persecutions of the world are often more dangerous than
those of the sword, and they corrupt far more souls. The allurements
of pleasure and riches; the pomps of vanity, and the snares of pride
and ambition, murder more souls than the Neros and Dioclesians
murdered bodies. We run into the arms of certain death if we expose
ourselves to our enemies bereft of our weapons. Constant
watchfulness, penance, prayer, and the like means above mentioned,
are the bucklers with which we must be always shielded, that we may
be rendered invincible against the devil.